누구

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 누〮 (Yale: nwú). From Old Korean 誰支 (*NWUk). Found in 17th-century sources as 누고 (Yale: nukwo).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [nuɡu]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [누구]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	nugu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	nugu
McCune–Reischauer?	nugu
Yale Romanization?	nwukwu

Pronoun

누구 • (nugu)

1. who
2. someone

   누구든 그 여자가 동의하지 않았다고 생각할까 봐서 그 여자는 아무 말도 하지 않았다.

   nugu-deun geu Yeoja-ga dong'uihaji Anatda-go saenggakhalkka bwaseo geu Yeoja-neun amu Mal-do haji anatda.

   She said nothing, lest anyone think she didn't agree.

   누군가가 문을 두드리고 있습니다. ― Nugun'ga-ga Mun-eul dudeurigo itseumnida. ― Someone is knocking on the door.

   • 2005, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, 5th Republic, episode 1, spoken by Park Chung-hee (Lee Chang-hwan):

     자유당때는 최인규나 곽영주가 발포명령을 해 사형을 당했지만 내가 발포명령을 하면은 대통령인 나를 누가 사형시키겠어.

     Jayudangttae-neun Choein'gyu-na Gwagyeongju-ga balpomyeongnyeong-eul hae sahyeong-eul danghaetjiman nae-ga balpomyeongnyeong-eul hamyeon-eun daetongnyeong-in nareul nuga sahyeongsikigesseo.

     When the Liberal Party was in power, Choi In-gyu and Kwak Young-joo gave the order to open fire and were sentenced to death, but if I give the order to open fire, who could execute me as the president?

Usage notes

• When a subject particle 가 (ga) is attached, 누가 (nuga) should be used instead of 누구가 (nuguga), e.g.

  누가 집에 있어요?

  nuga jibe isseoyo?

  Who is at home?